Banking of Cerebrospinal Fluid and/or Peripheral Blood from patients with Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromyelitis Optica and other neurological diseases or blood from healthy subjects

The purpose of this study is to collect samples that may aid in better understanding disease mechanisms of inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. In addition, these samples may help identifying markers relevant to such diseases. Blood from patients or healthy donors will be collected. CSF will be strictly obtained during procedures for the diagnostic workup of patients in the Department of Neurology at UCSF. Blood will be mainly obtained during diagnostic workup but may also be obtained for research purposes only. A portion of the samples that are collected as a part of this study may be used now or in the future for research purposes with the goal to have a constant flow of materials from human subjects required for basic laboratory research.

Participation in this study may include: drawing a blood sample by a UCSF staff member and 5 to 6 tablespoons of blood will be taken. You may donate blood up to 6 times in 3 years. If you consent to donate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), we will ask to take up to a total of 30 ml (6 teaspoons) of your CSF including the portion required for diagnostics and the portion to be used for research. Your primary care-taker will inform you about the lumbar puncture (LP) procedure. This procedure does not apply to healthy control subjects. You may donate CSF at each diagnostic LP.

If you have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica or another neurological disorder and you are a patient being seen at the UCSF MS Center, you may be able to participate. If you do not have a neurological disorder and live in the Bay area, you may be able to participate as a control.

For more information, please contact Natalie Pierson at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with ‘Banking Study Inquiry’ in the subject line or at (415) 502-7204.